Hmm, let’s see… since I last wrote, I’ve finished a romance novella (woo hoo! Sending it out this week), and found out that I really prefer not to write in that genre. Always good to know. I’ve also been working on a chick-lit novel (my second; the first has been banished from the Queendom of Sandhya) and a second novella, this time in the horror genre. Oh, and I’ve been plotting scenes for a third novel – a psychological thriller. I’ve also written a zillion short stories, some of which I intend to send out to contests.

The really great thing is that I’ve joined a weekly women’s writing group. It’s amazing what other writers will do for your motivation! I’d always heard that writing groups were essential for writers, but I didn’t really believe it. I went along because a writer friend of mine invited me, and ever since then, I’ve become a big fan and proponent of writing groups.

Here’s a quote from E.B. White that’s currently my email signature: Writing is both mask and unveiling.

So get out there and pound out those words!

What have I found to be most useful? Going back to edit your manuscript. I know it’s supposed to be a big no-no to do that, and I agree that it can be detrimental when you’re actually in the process of writing. But when your creative juices have ebbed and dried up completely, it can be a very useful tool in helping you get going again. Try it the next time you battle that horrible beast called writer’s block.

In other news, my middle grade (aka MiG) novel is almost finished! I am so excited; it’s been so much fun pounding it out. I think I’m going to be bereft when I am truly finished with it. If I can finish it by the 9th, I can go to a local critique group and have them tear it apart. Ah, the joys of being a writer!

Besides working on the middle grade novel I have talked about, I am also writing an adult novel. It’s quite an interesting concept (although, of course I would say that), and makes me think in an entirely new way. It’s like I have to switch gears in my brain. This new novel is rather serious, and deals with subject matter that you’d have to be of a certain maturity level to understand and/or identify with. Sometimes I am not sure that I am at that level yet, but the novel has been coming along nicely, so maybe I am harsher on myself than I should be.

I have an absurdly hard time with titles, but the title for this novel actually announced itself before I had even fleshed it out all the way. Interesting. Well, my coffee break is over, so it’s back to work for me. Happy Tuesday!

I was a total paranormal/horror junkie, and LOVED the R.L. Stine Goosebumps books. I also read Fear Street from time to time, but found the plots and people a little too ‘adult’ (read: scary) at the time. It’s such an exciting, intriguing  exercise to be plunged back into that world again. I almost can’t wait for my 1-year-old daughter to be 8 and tell me what she thinks of this book. Hopefully by then we’ll have it on our bookshelves as a real book, and not just a pile of pages of manuscript.

Happy New Year to everyone out there! May all our dreams come true this year!

I’ve had an idea for a novel rattling around in my brain for a little while, and I intend to get started on the Snowflake Method for that this afternoon. If you haven’t heard of the Snowflake Method, you can check it out here. It’s absolutely an essential element of novel writing, in my opinion. It helps you get organized, and if you’re a goal-oriented person like me, you will fall in love  with it! I used it for my first novel (which lies quietly in the depths of my hard drive), and will use it for this one, which I intend to finish in 2010. This second novel will be written with the intention of getting it published. Big gulp.

Hope everyone’s Christmas was more than merry! I can’t believe that this weekend we’ll be in a whole new year. 2010!

Flash fiction (and short shorts) have recently captivated me. Not only are they a challenge to the writer – you only have a very limited amount of words to try and capture the very essence of the thing you are trying to portray – they are also a challenge to the reader. The reader must look at the work of flash fiction as a puzzle, with each word being a vital piece. When put together and truly understood, they convey a beautiful message. Each word must be savored and turned over carefully before proceeding to the next one. I am not a poet, but flash fiction does seem poetic to me, in a way.

I’ve completed two stories I was working on, and now am ready to begin a new project. Hurrah! I love coming up with new ideas. Definitely the honeymoon phase. When the words won’t agree to do what you want them to do, the honeymoon phase screeches abruptly to a halt. But we won’t talk about that now. For now, I am happy to ruminate on the various tendrils of ideas in my mind.

Well, I’m off to enjoy the winter sunshine and write, and write, and write while the kids take their naps. Stay warm!

I have been writing ever since I was little, but for some reason, never seriously looked into getting published. Then, recently, when my kids were being absolutely crazy (as kids are wont to do), I realized that I needed to expend my creative energy somewhere or I would burst. I turned to www.pw.org and decided to send in my stories to unsuspecting lit mag editors. So far, I have only received one acceptance (no rejections), but it’s early days yet. I am sure many rejections are on their way, and hopefully a few acceptances too. I only wish response times were faster. Waiting drives me crazy!

I am absolutely enamored of speculative fiction and surrealism right now. www.brainharvestmag.com is a fantastic website, and one on which I hope to be published at some point.

Anyway, back to writing! It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it.